A/N: Hey, look, it took me less than a month this time! Yay! I updated the last chapter, so you'll probably want to go read that- it helps make more sense out of this... whatever this is. Right now it's mostly a mishmash of character introductions. Speaking of introductions, this chapter's another one. I bet a lot of you are wondering who takes Zuko's place if he's the Avatar. This is when you find out. I had someone guess that it would be Haru... sorry for the spoiler, but it's not. He shows up soon enough, though. No worries. So- have fun reading, go check out that update, and pretty pretty please review. Seriously. It's really the only way I know you like this, cause I'm still figuring all of 's fancy features. And besides, who doesn't love feedback? That's kind of why I post. To improve based on feedback.
...Yeah. Rant over. Enjoy your chapter.
"Princess Toph." The name echoed in the high stone ceilings of the Great Hall, and robes rustled as the princess entered. Servants flanking the door bowed, and she flicked her hand as she walked into the Grand Hall. "Leave us."
They bowed again and exited. Toph walked slowly up to her throne and seated herself. There was a moment of silence before she spoke. Her voice was stiff, and contained none of her internal irritation at seeing her guest. "Long Feng. I welcome you to my palace and my city. I was informed that you have requested an audience with me." Toph asked no questions, as was custom. To question was to show weakness, and to show weakness was to surrender authority. No high-ranking citizen of the Earth Kingdom would ever ask a question in an official setting. Certainly not the Crown Princess, especially in the presence of a key figure from Omashu's rival city of Ba Sing Se.
Neither would the leader of there Dai Li do such a thing. "Indeed I did. As I'm sure you know, the matter of capturing the Avatar and winning the war is one long-standing and much discussed. In order to fully complete our conquest, we must either join our cities-"
"-or capture the Avatar. Yes, I know," Toph finished for him. "However, it seems like this is a discussion that should be held with my king."
Long Feng looked at her. It was a look that said, I-know-something-you-don't-and-I'm-about-to-use-that. Toph hated that look. "As a matter of fact, I have already discussed this with King Bumi. We reached a consensus on the issue this very morning."
"Hm." Under her cool facade, she was twitching. "Well?"
"It was decided," Long Feng drawled in way that sent shivers up Toph's spine, "that you would be the one to capture the Avatar."
Toph blinked, stunned, and deadpanned: "What."
"Or," he continued with a disconcerting look of satisfaction, "you are to be wed to the Crown Prince before the new moon."
Across the palace, a guard suddenly found himself hurtling into the air, courtesy of an abruptly formed stone pillar beneath him.
"WHAT?!" Toph shrieked, her stony front shattering at the mention of the prince. Long Feng might have smirked at her reaction if it wasn't so dangerous. As it was, he sat coyly and nodded.
"Just as you said before, Princess, it is the only way to win the war."
"Marry HIM?! That GIT?!" Long Feng pursed his lips. "I would appreciate it if you would not insult the prince in my presence."
"You- UGH!" she screeched, and pounded the floor with her foot. The next second Long Feng was sitting twenty meters higher atop a stone pillar and Toph was stomping out of the room. The servants stared as their princess stormed out. Long Feng bent himself down and brushed dust off his clothes, watching Toph's retreating figure as the great doors slammed. He smiled.
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Toph stalked out of the room, fuming. She stamped past the guards, not sure where she was going, but marching furiously nonetheless. "That stupid, overbearing prick," she muttered. "Find the Avatar, or marry that wind-brained despot? The nerve of the little…" She continued to grouse under her breath, wandering around the palace, until she heard a slick voice behind her.
"Princess Toph."
She gritted her teeth and turned, already knowing who she would find. "Haru. What're you doing here?"
Haru peeled himself off the pillar he was leaning against, smirking at her. "Oh, you know. Just hanging around. Lovely city you've got."
"Uh-huh." Toph was unconvinced. She knew him better than that. The prince of Ba Sing Se never did anything without a reason. "Why're you really here?"
He grinned. "Right to the point, I see. Alright. I'm sure my advisor Long Feng has already told you about the agreement reached with King Bumi this morning. You know, capture the Avatar or marry me?" His face turned to stone, and he looked her in the eyes. "I'm encouraging you to choose the second."
Toph's gaze narrowed. "Why would I do something like that?"
He leaned in, his eyes glittering with something hard and dangerous. "C'mon, Toph. Capture the Avatar? Really? The Fire Nation was wiped out ages ago. If he isn't already dead, which is almost certain, he'd be ancient. There's no way he could possibly pose that much of a threat."
"He'd be about as old as King Bumi," Toph observed slowly. "And Oma knows that he's a force to be reckoned with."
Haru brushed this off easily. "Perhaps, but the Avatar is a firebender. He would hardly have the strength or fortitude of the strongest earthbender in the world."
Toph bristled slightly at this, a fact that Haru did not fail to notice. He continued, "Anyway, it's not all that important. Even if he was a threat, the Earth Kingdom could take him easily- but only with our two cities united. Face it, our marriage and the union of the two cities would win the war. Our enemies would be crushed underneath our feet. It's the only way." A tone of fervor tinged his voice, and his face lit up as he spoke.
"I'm inclined to disagree." Toph swept passed him, and he straightened. She called, without looking back, "I'm leaving immediately, so I don't expect to see you anytime soon. And I'll be coming back with the Avatar." She glanced over her shoulder, giving a look filled with malice.
"Goodbye, Prince Haru." With that she walked away quickly, green robes rustling. Haru smirked again, and called to her retreating figure, "You can run, Toph, but you can't hide! Destiny always gets its due!" Her fading voice echoed back to him. "Not with me!"